Vernier control and pivot mounting for transits and like instruments



June 30, 1953 c, NETTE 2,643,844

VERNIER CONTROL AND PIVOT MOUNTING FOR TRANSITS AND LIKE INSTRUMENTS Filed July 12, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG, 1

2 ATTORNEY June 30, 1953 H. c. NETTE 2,643,844

VERNIER CONTROL AND PIVOT MOUNTING FOR TRANSITS AND LIKE INSTRUMENTS Filed July 12, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4| F112, 2. as as 76 70 e5 84 HQ, 5 8? 73 5 T '60 66 9 a 23 59 a 6 l5 INVENTOR. 2s v3 26, flNelie 26 By Ill lo E I L June 30, 1953 H. c. NETTE VERNIER CONTROL AND PIVOT MOUNTING FOR TRANSITS AND LIKE INSTRUMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 12, 1948 INVENTOR- ATTORNEY 5:1 am QIVette June 30, 1953 H. c. NETTE 2,643,844

VERNIER CONTROL AND PIVOT MOUNTING FOR TRANSITS AND LIKE INSTRUMENTS Filed July 12, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3mm Henry aNelte Patented June 30, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VERNIER. CONTROL AND PIVOT" MOUNTING FOR TRANSITS'AN D LIKE INSTRUMENTS Henry C. Nette, Pasadena; Calif.

' ApplicationJul'y 12, 1948,.SeriaLNo.38,335

10" Claims. (Cl. 24'8I80') This invention relates to improvements ingenmetrical instruments of the light-ray typemore' particularly transits and is directed specifically to improvements in Vernier controls for the rotation of the transit both horizontally and vertically.

A principal object of the present invention is. to provide an improved Vernier control whereby, when it is: desired to swing: the transit freely the Vernier screw may be shifted. for disengagement from thegear with which it is normallyconnected thereby releasing the gear for free. rotation together with the. parts with. which it" is connected.

Another obiect of. the. invention is to provide an improved Vernier. control of the character above statedwhichis'spring loaded or controlled whereby upon release of the Vernier screw it will automatically return to its position of engagement with the. gear, ready for use.

Still another object of theinvention is to provide in an instrument of the. character stated an improved mounting for the telescope standard; standard plate, leveling head and associate parts upon the tripod plate whereby through such mounting the parts are securely clamped andheld against relative movement.

A still further object of the inventionis toprovide in an instrument of" the character. statedimproved bearings between movable parts with novel means for tightening suchbearings to prevent play and'looseness between coupled parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will; become. apparent as the description. of the. same proceeds andlthe invention will be best.und'erstood from. a. consideration of. the followi g. detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings. forming a part of the specification, with the understanding. however,v that. the invention is not. to be limited to the exact details of construction. shown and described sinceobvious'modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

In the. drawings: 1

Figure llisaview in side. elevation of." a transit, in. the structure of. which arev incorporated the features of. the present invention.

Figure. 2 is a view in top plan ofthe same.

FigureB is a. rear elevation of the instrument.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on.the line 4-4 of Figure. 2.

Figure5 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 5'5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 15a viewinelevation of the topright hand side of the instrument; portions being broken away and also showing portions of the vernier screw-insection.

Figure 7 is-a sectional detail taken substantially on theline 1-1 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken substan' tially on the line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Figure 3.

Figure 10 is a detail illustrating a modification of the vernierscrew employed for turningthe instrument in a horizontal plane and showing an improved method of reading" minute angles.

Figure '11 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of the Vernier screw drum and a portion of thebase in association with" which it functions.

Figure 12 is a detail section taken substan tially'on the line l2'--l2 of Figure 10;

Figure 13'i's a detailview illustrating the spring or friction washer by which the horizontal degree scale is held in position.

Referringnowmore particularly'tothe drawing the. numeral lflgenerally designates the head unit of a tripodiof the type commonly employed for supporting surveying instruments, which head is connected by suitable pivots with three supporting legs, not shown.

Removably secured to the tripod head is the tripod; plate H.

In the center of the plate I l is formed the opening" [2 through which extends upwardly the bearing shell 13' which is secured to the tripod plate in a. suitable manner as shown. This bearing shell has the interior surface l4f'ormedi to provide the socket forv the reception ofthe bearing knuckle l5 which is in the form of; hemisphere which has a flattop. surface It which is perpendicular to the axis of the passage I! which extends radially through the bearing knuckle.

The numeral l8'generally designates the leveling head for the instrument; This head. has a central downwardly tapering foot I9 which rests upon the flat surface l6 of the bearing knuckle as shown and this foot portion I9 has a threaded bore extended axially therethrough as indicated at 20; which bore opens intoand is concentric with the axial chamber 21 which actually constitutes a continuationof the bore 20, of materially greater diameter. at the bottom of the chamber 2| the floor 22 through the center of which the threaded bore 20 opens.

The leveling head also includes as an integral part thereof, radially extending ears 23-" which are customarily" four in number and through There is thus provided.

J) at its lower end has the ball and socket connection with the top of the tripod plate H as indicated at 26, whereby when the leveling screws are suitably rotated through the medium of an attached nut 2! desired movement and consequent leveling, of the head 18 is obtained.

The head I8 is coupled with the bearing knuckle by the threaded screw or stud 28 which engages in the threaded bore of the leveling head and thus firmly connects the head with the bearing knuckle.

The leveling head is reduced in diameter at its top end whereby there is formed an encircling shoulder 29 and resting upon this shoulder is a gear plate 30, the center of which is apertured to receive the reduced upwardly extending pore tion l8 of the leveling head. This plate is secured to the shoulder 29 by screws 3| or the like.

The periphery of the gear plate 30 is provided with the transverse worm threads 32.

Encircling the reduced portion 18 of the leveling head and resting upon the gear plate 38, is a collar 33. Overlying and resting upon this collar 33 is a corrugated or wrinkled spring washer 33 and resting upon this washer and encircling the portion ill of the head is the degree disk 34, the overall diameter of which is somewhat less than the diameter of the ear plate 30 over which it lies.

The degree disk 34 is pressed down against the spring washer 33 and firmly held against accidental rotary movement around the adjacent portion of the head, by the cap ring 34' which is firmly secured in position by the screws 35, as shown in Figure 4. By this means the degree disk will not move from its position on the head unless manually shifted.

In order to facilitate the turning of the degree disk around the reduced portion of the head, the disk has secured thereto the angular member 34a, a portion of which extends downwardly across the periphery of the gear 30 as shown to provide a finger piece.

As will be readily seen upon reference to Figure 5 the top of the degree disk 34 is laid off or calibrated around the periphery of the disk in the degrees of a circle whereby this disk cooperates with a stator scale hereinafter described.

The numeral 36 generally designates the telescope supporting frame which is rotatably mounted on the leveling head 18 and which c'om prises the two spaced parallel upstanding A- standards 31 mounted upon or formed integral with the standard plate 38. This plate 38 is circular through three quarters of its circumference and in the fourth quarter it has its side edges continued from, two points spaced 90 apart, tangential to the circle to form the square corner portion 39. The standard plate has a dependingfiange or skirt 40 and in this corner portion there is provided a box in which is housed the horizontal angle Vernier screw which is generally designated 4 I.

Formed integral with the standard plate 38 at the center thereof, is the downwardly extending hub 42 which is hollow or tubular as shown and which is of a diameter to extend into the axial chamber 2! of the leveling head. The lower end of this hub has the inner edge milled or reamed out to provide a curved bearing surface 43 to rest upon the correspondingly curved surface of a hemispherical foot bearing 44. This bearing 44 which is formed in the same manner as the bearing ball or knuckle i5, rests upon the bottom or floor 22 of the chamber 2| as shown.

Coaxial with the hub 42 and extending upwardly from and above the standard plate 38 is a circular cup 45 having an annular or circular inner bearing surface 45 for a head bearing 47 which is also of hemispherical form and has its curved or rounded surface directed downwardly in opposition to the rounded surface of the foot bearing 44. Thetop of -this-cup is,covered by acap48., j

The opposing bearings 44 and 47 are provided with radial bores or passages 44' and 4? respectively and extending through the bore 44' of the foot bearing is a .screw 49. The lower end of this screw 49 is threaded for engagement in the threaded bore 20 of the foot I9 while the part lyingin the bore 44' of the foot bearing is unthreaded for free turning movement therein. The upper end of the screw 49 has a long cylindrical head 50 which lies within the hub 42 and this head hasthereinthe coaxial tapped bores 5i and 52. The tapped bore 5| extends into the head from the outer end partway through the length of the head and is continued at its inner end in the smaller tapped bore 52.

Extending through the radial bore '5'? of the head bearing is a sleeve bolt 53 which has a collar 54 at its outer end which bears upon the top of the head bearing while the inner end, which is externally threaded, threads into the larger top bore 5| of the bolt 49.

Extending through the sleeve bolt 53 is the headed pin 55, the head upon the outer end of which rests upon the flange 54 of the sleeve bolt while the inner end which is screw threaded, is securedinthetappedbore 52.

Thus from the foregoing it will be seen that the telescope supporting frame or unit 35 is mounted in a unique manner upon the leveling head I8 whereby it may be readily rotated in a horizontalplane but is firmly held against tipping or movement from such plane.

Upon one side of the standard plate there is formedthe recess or opening 56 and secured to the underside of the standard plate to be viewed through this recess is a fixed Vernier 57, the inner edge of which is curved to conform to the peripheral curve of the degree disk 34 against which it lightly rests. It is also in the same plane as the degree disk so that the degrees can be readily noted against the fixed scale as the standard plate is rotated.

Rotation of the standard plate is effected by the unit 41 which, as previously stated, is housed in the corner box of the standard plate. This unit comprises a sleeve 58, upon one side of which is formed a bearing 59 which is perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve and through which extends the pivot screw 60 which is secured, from the underside, in the standard plate 38. This supports the sleeve 58 beneath the standard plate and in parallel relation with the under surface thereof.

Encircling the pivot screw 60 between the bearing 59 and the adjacent standard plate 38, is a spring 5|. This spring is turned or wound aroundthe screw 60 and has one end fixed in the standard plate as indicated at 62 while the other end is fixed, as indicated at 6-3, in the bearing 59.

Extending through and rotatably supported in the bearing sleeve 58, is a long screw shank 64 which at its inner end is of reduced diameter and threaded to provide a screw 65, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth 32 of the adjacent gear wheel or plate 30. The outer end of the acsasae screw shank 64'; has the collar 66; which. bears against the? outer: end of the bearing: sleeve 58 and. integral with this collar: is the knurled head 61.

The spring: 61 isbiased. to effect the turning of: the bearing; sleeve; 58' in a: direction to constantly urge the-screw fifi into. meshswith the gear plate; but room. is provided. in the opening in the standard plate flange lil through which the collar portion of Vernier screw passes, to permit the screw and the bearing; sleeve to be oscillated slightly against the. tension. of the spring 61 to effect thedisengagement of: the Vernier screw 65 from. the teeth 32.

At the inner end of the bearing sleeve 58.: the screw 65: hasmountedthereon thecollar '68 and between this collar-and; the adjacent end of the bearing sleeve 581 is a sprin lit-which normally urges axial movement of the Vernier screwto maintain. the outer collar. 66 firmly againstthe outer: end of the bearing sleeve.

The; numeral l8 generally designates the;telescope which has opposite trunnions H andwhich is. oscillatably supportedbetween. theupper ends of the. standards 3'? by bearings or bearing. units Hand 13.

One of the bearing units, here-desgnated. as the unit: 12 comprises a block it havingextending therethrough and threadably joined thereto the axle 16 which; is. secured and'maintained in-position by. thelockcollar 11:.

The inner end of the: axle la is drilled and tapped to. receive the-bearing balllsecuring screw M5. and the adjacenttrunnion H ofthe telescope isrecessed. or. socketedas. indicated at 19: to receive the'spherical surface-of the bearing knuckle or: ball. 80 through which. the securing screw passes. radially and whereby; such knuckle is firmly connected to the inner endlofthe axle'lfi,

The upper end of the-standard: which supports the bearing unit 73: isformedito provide a frame 81: in. which: is slidably. mounted for vertical movement, the adjustable bearingblock 82-.

The'block 82- has: a: lower guide pin: 83.. and: an upper threaded guide. pin 84 which pins pass through openings in. adjacent. parts of the-frame and the upper: pin: 84. carries aboveand below the part of. the: frame through which it passes, the lock nuts. 85;

The. trunnion. lil adjacent to. the bearing 1.3.. is formed. in. the same manner as the:- opposite trunnion, that is, with the: outwardly opening socketwhich is heradesignated 86: andwhich is designed to-receive the spherical surface of. the ball knuckle bearing ill: and. extending radially through. this bearing knuckle: 8? is a. securing screw 38. which is threaded into; the block 82 as shown; whereby to hold; the: bearing; knuckle or ball 81 firmly against the innerrside of the block with its spherical surface positioned to engage in the: socket 86.- of theadjacent. telescope trunnion.

The; vertical: angle of thet-telescope tube iscont'rolled by a: Vernier screw unit which is. generally'designated St and a sector gear 93. The gear sector: 9!)- is securedto one-f the telescope trunnions H as: shown; by screws 91. or in any other'suitable means. and-is.- concentric with such trunnion and: extends downwardly or depends therefromiwhenr the telescope l0 is. in horizontal position;

The vertical angle Vernier screw unit 89- is. of similar construction to the. unit 4!- and' comprises the bearing sleeve 92: with which is integrally formed the-right angularly disposed bearing 93. This bearin 98 is disposed upon the inner: side of and in. a: plane perpendicular: to: a portion of. the. standards! adjacent towhich. the sector 90 is. positioned; suchv for. example; as the-web which extends along one side of. the standard, such web being provided with a; suitable-opem'ng for the passage therethrough offthe pivot screw 95. This screwis heldin: place by the nut 96 andinterposed between theweb"94 and the adjacent end of the bearing 93 is a coil 'or twist. spring 91, one end of which: is secured" to the adjacent web while: the: otherend. is secured to-the-bearing in. a: manner similar to thescrew 6|. This spring 9.1; imparts necessary turning thrust to the bearing: sleeve 92 to move the vernier screwinto contact with the toothedperiphcry of the screw sector 90;

The Vernier screw of'the unit 89. comprises the smooth shank portion 98: which is rotatably mounted in thebearing sleeve 92 and extending from one end of this shank is. thethreaded=portion 99 which. has toothed connection; with: the screw sector 90 ,as shown in Figure 6. The-:screw and; the; bearin sleeve 92 he across the. top. of the bearing 93 and the pivot screw 95 so that when the screw is horizontal it will betangent to the edge. of the-sector 9t and in. drivingxconnection therewith.

' At the opposite end; off the" shank 98: from the threaded portion 953;, isia shouldered portion. I00 which bearsagainst. the adjacent end of the hearing sleeve 92-, which; shouldered portionis inteigral'with the knurledihead [0].;

Upon the threaded portion 99: of. the screw is fixed the collar I02, corresponding to thecollar 68 and interposed. between: this collar: and the adjacent. end of thebearingsleievelfl is a. spring element H73 whichholds th'ezvernier's'crew against axial movement; in. its: bearing.

In the. opposite; side of? the telescope 705' from the gear sector diliisiat degree. scale sector plate M. This degree: scale: sector plate is. secured concentric with the telescope trunnion, in. any

suitable. mannenias: by the use of screws. or the like'as shownat. 1.05;.

. Cooperatin with;the degree scale sector is a zero point. indicator: which. is inv the. form of a straightplate or bar. H16. which is secured across the-two. legs. of the adjacentA-standard 3T with thezcentering mark; Hit" in the vertical'lineof the center' of turning or rotation forthe telescope 10 as; shown. inEigure- 1.

It willb'e; seen; fITOHIL'DhE foregoing that when it is: desired to. make-a. quick. roughadjustment of the inclination of. the telescope l0 this can be accomplished rapidly by pressing upwardly on the knurled knob IOI. of! theuvernier screw unit 89 thereby oscillating the screwagainst the tension: of. thecontrol. spring S1! todisengage the screw-from the Vernier screw sector 80. The desired angular adjustment of: the telescope can then bemadeandiuponi releasing the-Vernier unit 89 the screw end 99:- thereof: will be immediately returned by the screw 9i into toothed engagement: with thesector- 9Q whereupon the desired finer adjustment of: the. angle may be accomplished by rotating; the screw 99..

Figures 10 to- 1'2.- illustratea modified: construction for. the Vernier screws; and. provide an. improved method of readingminute. angleslon the transit. It will be understood that this improved constructionwill. be usedfor bothhorizontal and vertical angles and. may be used in substitution for the vernier screws hereinbeioredescribed;

In the illustration of. the minute reading vernier screw, the point Ill-l: designates-the radial center for either the horizontal angle or vertical angle degree disk and gear or degree sector and screw sector, which elements are here designated by the reference characters ill-lot and 39-430 respectively.

Either the degree dial 34 or degree sector I04 is associated with a fixed element I03 having noted thereon a single zero or setting point I09 in association with which the degrees are read.

The minutes ar read in association with the vernier screw modified in the manner about to be described. In this modified screw construction the numeral H designates the pivot screw around which the vernier screw is oscillated when the screw i to be disengaged from the gear disk or sector. The bearing sleeve for the Vernier is designated III and the Vernier screw is designated H2. The shank portion I I3 of the screw lies within the bearing sleeve 1 I I and carries upon the end remote from the screw IIZ a collar H4 which bears against the adjacent end of the bearing III.

Upon the side of the collar I [6 remote from the bearing III the shank has the arbor H formed on which is mounted for free rotation the drum I I 6, the peripheral surface of which is graduated or scaled for reading minutes in association with a starting or zero point Ill located on an adjacent fixed part of the instrument.

Secured upon the outer end of the screw shank as by means of a press fit or in any other suitable manner, is the knurled knob H8 against the underside of which the minute drum H6 contacts.

The inner or underside of the minute drum is provided with the recess H9 which surrounds the central opening therein and in this recess is housed the spring washer I which bears against the collar H4 and urges the minute drum outwardly for contact with the knob I I8. Suflicient frictional contact is thus obtained between the drum. and the screw head to cause the drum to be rotated with the head but if independent rotation of the drum is desired this can be readily effected and to facilitate this the inner surface of the drum around the spring recess H9 is roughened or knurled as indicated at I21.

It will be understood that the modified constructicn of the Vernier screw may be used in place of the Vernier screw 4| and by the employment of the spring washer 33' and the spring washer I20, both the vernier screw, minute dial Or drum and the degree disk or sector are friction controlled. Consequently while the drum H6 will rotate with the screw head MS as will be readily apparent and the degree disk as is frictionally held in position by the spring washer 33, the drum I It may be manually turned independently of the screw head I28 when desired and, by the provision of the angled finger piece 34a the degree disk 34 may also be turned manually if and when desired to a new zero position or prime reading.

The gears and 90 with which the vernier screws have toothed connection, are provided with 360 teeth whereby one complete turn of the vernier screw may be made to impart one compass degree turn to the gear or to the instrument with respect to the gear.

I claim:

1. In a transit construction of the character described, including a tripod plate, a leveling head, the leveling head having a central downwardly extending foot, a half ball bearing disnosed beneath and supporting the foot and having rotational connection with the tripod plate, means connecting the tripod plate and leveling head together facilitating leveling of the head with respect to the plate, said leveling head having an upwardly opening chamber, a standard plate having a tubular hub adapted to extend into said chamber coaxially therewith, a pair of half ball bearings at the upper and lower ends of the hub and having their circular faces in opposed relation, the lower one of the half ball bearings resting upon the bottom of said axial chamber, and means passing through the half ball bearings and through the hub and drawing said bearings together, said last mean being secured in said foot.

2. A transit structure of the character stated in claim 1, with a gear plate secured horizontally upon the upper end of the leveling head and con centric with said hub, means carried by the standard plate and connected with said gear for establishing a driving connection between the standard plate and the gear for the rotation of the standard plate, a degree circle carrying disk secured to the leveling head above the gear and concentric therewith, and a Vernier carried by the standard plate for coaction with the degree circle of the disk.

3. In a transit construction of the character set forth including a tripod plate, a leveling head supported on the tripod plate and having a central vertical body portion provided with an axial, upwardly opening chamber, a standard carrying plate disposed over the leveling head, a hub carried by the standard plate and disposed vertically in said chamber, a bearing member in the bottom of said chamber upon which the hub rests, and a connecting means between the hub and the leveling head passing axially through the hub and leveling head.

4. In a transit construction of the character set forth including a tripod plate, a leveling head supported on the plate, a standard carrying plate disposed over the leveling head, the said leveling head having a central vertical body portion provided with an axial, upwardly opening chamber, a long hub member carried by the plate and extending into said chamber, bearing means between the bottom of the chamber and the lower end of the hub facilitating the turning of the hub and plate, said body portion being provided at its top with a shoulder concentric with the chamber, a gear plate having a central opening in which the upper part of the body portion is received, the gear plate resting upon said shoulder, means carried by the standard plate for ngaging the gear to facilitate turning the plate relative to th leveling head, and a coupling means extending axially through the hub member between the upper end of the hub member and the leveling head.

5. In a transit construction of the character described including a tripod plate, a leveling head supported thereon, said head having a vertical, upwardly opening axial chamber therein, a standard carrying plate disposed over the leveling head, a tubular hub carried by the plate and extending down into said chamber, means between the lower end of said hub and the bottom of the chamber providing a bearing, and a coupling passing axially through the tubular hub and connecting the plate at the upper end of the hub with the leveling head below the chamber.

6. A transit construction of the character stated in claim 5, in which said bearing is in the form of a ball and socket.

7. A transit construction of the character stated in claim 5, in which said bearing comprises a semi-spherical ball lying upon the bottom of the chamber with the rounded side uppermost and a bearing seat in the lower end of the hub receiving the rounded surface of the ball.

8. In a transit construction of the character described including a tripod plate, a leveling head supported thereon, said head having a vertical, upwardly opening axial chamber therein, a standard carrying plate disposed over the leveling head, a tubular hub carried by the plate and extending down into said chamber, the upper and lower ends of the hub being formed to provide oppositely facing bearing sockets, a bearing member at the upper and lower ends of the hub and each having a rounded surface engaging in a bearing socket, the lower one of said bearing members resting on the bottom of said chamber, and a coupling between the upper bearing member and the leveling head below the chamber and extending axially through the hub and the lower bearing member.

9. A transit construction of the character described in claim 8, wherein the" said coupling between the upper bearing member and the leveling head comprises a screw having an upper end portion lying within the hub and a lower end portion passing freely through the lower bearing member and threadably secured in the leveling head, a sleeve bolt connected with the upper bearing member and extending downwardly into the hub and having threaded connection with said screw, and a headed pin extending through the upper bearing member and through the sleeve bolt and threadably connected at its lower end in the upper end of said screw.

10. In a transit construction of the character described, a leveling head, a standard carrying plate lyin thereover, the leveling head having a top end externally reduced to provide an encircling shoulder, the leveling head having a vertical axial chamber therein open at its top end, a hub carried by said plate and extending axially downwardly into the chamber, a thrust bearing between the lower end of the hub and the bottom of the chamber, a degree disk having a central opening receiving the reduced top end of the head, a cap ring secured to the top of the head and overlying a portion of the degree disk, the degree disk lying below the standard carrying plate, and a spring ring between the underside of the degree disk and the shoulder maintaining the disk in frictional contact with the cap ring.

HENRY C. NETIE.

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